“The chief difficulty of cutting down the expenses of government is that so many of the expenses can vote.” Evan Esar, American humorist.

I previously wrote that I will vote against Question 1, which would legalize marijuana in Maine. I probably will also vote against Questions 2 through 6 on the Maine ballot as well. And please don’t even get me started on what I think about when it comes to bonds on the state’s ballot. I probably wouldn’t even write about ballot issues, but this year their are some serious implications if all the citizen initiatives pass.

Question 2 reads: “Do you want to add a 3% tax on individual Maine taxable income above $200,000 to create a state fund that would provide direct support for student learning in kindergarten through 12th grade public education?”

My only hope is that if this passes, many who voted for it become owners of small businesses, which begin to prosper. My belief is that only the Maine Legislature should have the right to taxation. If it passes and the trend to do so continues, our grandchildren will more than likely blame us for the downfall of our democracy if they are educated enough to understand such a concept. Right now the United States pays the most to educate the children who live here, and I’m sorry to state that our students are at the bottom of list.

Question 3 reads: “Do you want to require background checks prior to the sale or transfer of firearms between individuals not licensed as firearms dealers, with failure to do so punishable by law, and with some exceptions for family members, hunting, self-defense, lawful competitions, and shooting range activity?”

Again, I have to vote no for this one. This is a solution looking for a problem to solve and it solves nothing. If someone asks you why you would vote against it, ask them how it solved the crime/murder problem in Chicago, the city with some of the toughest gun laws in our country. It does absolutely nothing to deter criminals from getting guns of any type, and I hope all the out-of-state money, especially Bloomberg’s, goes to waste. It’s nothing more than putting New York City values upon every Mainer and it sucks.

Question 4 reads: “Do you want to raise the minimum hourly wage of $7.50 to $9 in 2017, with an annual $1 increases up to $12 in 2020, and annual cost-of-living increases thereafter, and do you want to raise the direct wage for service workers who receive tips from half the minimum wage to $5 in 2017, with annual increases until it reaches the adjusted minimum wage?”

My answer is a very simple no. If there was ever an easy way to create inflation, this question is certainly the most perfect example ever seen. I strongly recommend anyone on a fixed income to vote against this particular question. When one sees an initial 20 percent increase of what businesses must pay, where will the money come from? Eventually will be closer to a 50 percent increase so what will be impact? I can see the costs being passed on to the consumer, as it always is, or the business fails. Somehow I have a feeling this question is related to those who wrote Question 1.

Question 5 reads: “Do you want to allow voters to rank their choices of candidates in elections for U.S. Senate, Congress, Governor, State Senate and State Representative and to have ballots counted at the state level in multiple rounds in which last-place candidates are eliminated until a candidate wins by majority?”

This is another solution looking a problem to solve. Again, probably related to Question 1, so I doubt it really solves anything, that is unless one wants to stack the ballots with candidates. Sad part about this citizen effort is that it probably is unconstitutional in the first place because it allows more than one vote per person. Hell, there are some who have no clue whatsoever who they are voting for so it may very well be an exercise in stupidity.

Lane Hiltunen of Windham will vote no on Question 6.